Why the name "reindeer treats"? The red, caramel and dark brown colors reminded me of a reindeer! One with a red nose, of course...

This recipe is all about instant gratification! Well, almost instant! These clusters of deliciousness are quicker and easier than most of the recipes on my blog, so I consider that as instant as I can get. If you forget to make something to take to a holiday function, to a work party, to a friend's birthday, to your own birthday, or any other occasion that warrants snacking, these are the treats for you Don't worry, I've got your back.

What I love about these snack clusters are their slight sweetness and their vague identity. They have cereal in them, so they could be breakfast. There are also pretzels and popcorn, so that = snack, right? Fruit and peanut butter is a classic lunch combination. Chocolate and vanilla together is a classic dessert combo. So, you've really got all your meals covered for the day with this recipe (minus dinner, but who has time for that?)!

All joking aside, though, these snack clusters are a delicious and slightly healthy way to indulge around the holidays. This is a wonderful recipe to share, give as gifts, or munch on while you do festive activities inside or out! Change up your dry ingredients for fun times. As I was making these, I started to have a spiritual awakening thinking about all the fun things I could dredge in the peanut butter base. Here's a short list of what I thought of in those 5 minutes:

crushed shelf-stable vegan cookies

crackers

different cereals

different flavor extracts

candy pieces

graham crackers

nuts

seeds

chocolate chips/chunks

other dried fruits

different spice combinations

pumpkin

I hope I've inspired you to run with your wildest cluster-making dreams! There are more holiday-themed recipes on the way, so stick around! ;)

Mix pretzels, popcorn, cereal, and cranberries in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silpats.

In a medium saucepan, heat the peanut butter, brown rice syrup, vanilla, and spices over medium heat. Stir with a spatula constantly until the mixture becomes smooth and is just bubbling, about 5 minutes.

Turn off the heat.

Pour the hot peanut butter mixture onto the dry ingredients and stir everything with a rubber spatula to combine.

Scoop the desired amount (I used about 2 Tb each) of snack mix and place onto the lined baking sheets. If the clusters fall apart, gently mold them together with your spoon and hands.

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I'm Jess!

This is my very first food blog! I post revised conventional recipes of foods that I hold near and dear to my heart. My cooking here is all gluten-free and cruelty-free, but full of flavor and comfort.